Forrest ministry
The Forrest Ministry was the first government ministry in Western Australia, after the inauguration of responsible government. It was in government from 29 December 1890 to 14 February 1901, when it was succeeded by the Throssell Ministry following the 1901 elections.
The members of the Forrest Ministry were:
| Office | Minister | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier[1] Colonial Treasurer |
Sir John Forrest | 29 December 1890 | 14 February 1901 |
| Colonial Secretary Minister for Education[2] |
George Shenton | 29 December 1890 | 11 October 1892 |
| Stephen Henry Parker | 11 October 1892 | 4 December 1894 | |
| Sir John Forrest | 4 December 1894 | 28 April 1898 | |
| George Randell | 28 April 1898 | 15 February 1901[3] | |
| Attorney-General | Septimus Burt | 29 December 1890 | 27 October 1897 |
| Richard Pennefather | 27 October 1897 | 15 February 1901 | |
| Commissioner of Crown Lands | William Marmion | 29 December 1890 | 4 December 1894 |
| Alexander Richardson | 4 December 1894 | 13 March 1897 | |
| George Throssell | 13 March 1897 | 15 February 1901 | |
| Commissioner of Railways Minister for Works |
Harry Venn | 29 December 1890 | 10 March 1896 |
| Frederick Piesse | 1 April 1896 | 23 August 1900 | |
| Barrington Wood | 10 September 1900 | 15 February 1901[3] | |
| Minister for Education[2] | Edward Wittenoom | 19 December 1894 | 12 May 1897 |
| Henry Lefroy | 12 May 1897 | 28 April 1898 | |
| Minister for Mines | Edward Wittenoom | 19 December 1894 | 28 April 1898 |
| Henry Lefroy | 28 April 1898 | 15 February 1901[3] | |
| Minister without portfolio | Septimus Burt | 29 December 1898 | 15 February 1901 |
Notes
- 1 According to Reid & Oliver (1982, p.1), the office of Premier was not provided for in the Constitution Act 1889, which only mention the "principal executive offices of the Government liable to be vacated on political grounds". However, the Governor of Western Australia, Sir William Robinson GCMG, used the courtesy title of Premier to refer to the leader of the Government in public statements, as did the media, and its use was in keeping with that prevalent in other British crown colonies.
- 2 The responsibility for Education lay with the Colonial Secretary in the Forrest Ministry except during the period 19 December 1894 – 28 April 1898. A separate Minister for Education was not re-installed until the Daglish Ministry took office in 1904.
- 3 Three of the ministers were subsequently sworn in in the same substantive role under the Throssell Ministry.
References
- Black, David; Bolton, Geoffrey (2001). Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia, Volume One, 1870–1930 (Revised ed.). Parliament House: Parliament of Western Australia. ISBN 0730738140.
- de Garis, Brian (1991). "Self-Government and Political Parties". In Black, David (ed.). The House on the Hill: A History of the Parliament of Western Australia 1832–1990. Perth, Western Australia: Parliament of Western Australia. ISBN 0-7309-3983-9.
- Bolton, Geoffrey; Mozley, Ann (1961). The Western Australian Legislature, 1870-1930. Canberra: Australian National University. (no ISBN)
- Reid, Gordon; Oliver, Margaret R. (1982). The premiers of Western Australia, 1890-1982. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0-85564-214-9.
